Camping and Backpacking Cooking Gear

What basic tools do you need for cooking and eating in the great outdoors? You can spend a bundle on clever, fancy items - and you may want to put some of these luxury goodies on your Christmas list - but here's a list of all you really need.

The examples are just to give you an idea of what we are talking if you aren't familiar with the item.

Pot and lid (avoid mess kits, they are a mess!) (﻿example﻿)

Fry pan (best to use non-stick, inexpensive works fine)

Pot holder (example)

Spatula (to turn pancakes, etc.) (example)

Fork, spoon and knife (Spork - also available at Wal-mart), (Lexan - available at Wal-mart) (Polycarbonate)

When buying cooking utensils you have a number of options, one is to get a mess kit (DON'T DO IT!) that can be used for both cooking and eating. But you would be better off getting your Pathfinder a small Teflon frying pan and small pot. Mess kits are just exactly that - a MESS - because it takes a lot of skill and patience to cook on uncoated aluminum, and to keep that little pan from dumping everything on the ground when you pick it up by the handle. Nothing will turn a Pathfinder off quicker than the frustration of having all his or her food stick to the pan and burn when they are tired, hungry, and away from home. Have your Pathfinder use their camping equipment and practice cooking their meals at home on a weekend. This way, way they will already know what they like and how to fix it.

Once you've got utensils to cook in, you'll need something to eat on and with. If you're eating solo you can skip the bowl and eat out of the pot, assuming you're doing one-pot meals. Otherwise you'll need to bring a bowl and/or a plate. An insulated mug with a lit helps keep hot drinks hot, and insects out. It also helps prevent losing the whole drink if it tips over.

All water must be purified. Therefore each person should bring a container to hold the purified water in. One suggestion is an empty 1/2 gallon milk jug. This can easily be tied to the outside of the backpack, and weighs almost nothing when empty.

Besides the pots and pans you will also need to consider how you are going to do your cooking. Even people who like the friendly warmth of a backcountry fire usually cook on stoves. Once you get the hang of them, stoves are quick and easy, and they do away with the risk of dropping a pot full of spaghetti into the ashes. Also there's always the chance of rain and it's difficult to cook over a fire when it's raining. Another thing to consider is that some camping areas may not allow campfires because of the risk of wildfire. So you will want to consider taking a backpacking stove.

Soon after each trip, take a few minutes to evaluate the food and learn from experience. What did you bring home? Why? How much more or less should have been taken? What did other Pathfinders bring that you liked. Keep notes, and refer to them before your next trip.

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